OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Alma, NE 68920

Alma: median income $80,938, home value $166,700, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spearville, KS 67876 95%160$71,964$183,900$142 Very close on everything we compare
Aurelia, IA 51005 94%270$75,938$169,200$93 Very close on everything we compare
Marcus, IA 51035 94%262$79,338$209,700$109 pricier homes ($43K more)
Glidden, IA 51443 93%277$78,906$191,000$139 Very close on everything we compare
Edgerton, MN 56128 93%308$71,875$181,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Dawson, MN 56232 93%373$75,069$172,300$92 larger
Odebolt, IA 51458 92%262$86,250$149,400— Very close on everything we compare
Elkader, IA 52043 92%452$76,705$165,000$131 Very close on everything we compare
Lamberton, MN 56152 92%353$75,536$129,900$90 cheaper homes ($37K less)
De Smet, SD 57231 92%309$78,646$212,200$125 pricier homes ($46K more)
Glasgow, MO 65254 92%353$70,321$156,800$149 Very close on everything we compare
Frankfort, KS 66427 92%153$79,481$133,600— cheaper homes ($33K less)
Wakeeney, KS 67672 92%80$83,917$118,500$105 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Meade, KS 67864 92%203$75,929$135,700— cheaper homes ($31K less)
Freeman, SD 57029 91%244$73,750$179,700$107 Very close on everything we compare
Ness City, KS 67560 91%120$68,654$121,700$93 cheaper homes ($45K less)
New Berlin, PA 17855 90%1,174$88,929$216,700$151 pricier homes ($50K more)
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472 90%402$93,482$204,100$112 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
West Bend, IA 50597 90%321$92,000$179,700— younger residents
Hartley, IA 51346 90%291$72,426$156,800$127 larger · 6 min longer commute
Haxtun, CO 80731 90%175$74,375$235,300$83 pricier homes ($69K more)
Oriskany, NY 13424 89%1,253$84,844$208,200$163 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · younger residents
New Knoxville, OH 45871 89%792$87,500$211,700$204 pricier homes ($45K more) · 5 min longer commute
Traer, IA 50675 89%385$75,938$156,900$110 larger
Sidney, IA 51652 89%200$82,200$134,800$165 cheaper homes ($32K less)

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.